What did/didn't Work this season

The only thing requiring attention on our Kiwi boat this year is the TCM electric toilet. It is always stuck when we return to Wellington after leaving her for 7 months. Easy - but smelly - fix. Remove the motor, dismantle, lube the shaft, bronze bush and impeller, refit, all good.

Went for a short - 3 hour - sail yesterday in the Harbour. She went really well, we practised heaving to, reefing - she has a roller boom - and manouvering astern. All good.

This simple boat keeps our sailing skills up - its far too easy in our big heavy motorsailer back in the UK!

So, after lots of hard work last year, everything bar the heads is up to the mark ready for this year.

Sailing with the Grandchildren Sunday should the weather be OK - looking forward to that.

They can try their Christmas Presents out early, PFD's.
 
S
I considered having them suspended from the spreaders but I worried that if I ever forgot to take the weight of the boom on the topping-lift when lowering the main I would be hanging the boom and main from the spreaders.

However, that was probably a needless worry as I have since stood on my spreaders and I weigh a lot more than my boom and main. :D
Spoke to a rigger today. He felt that I could rig the lazy jacks to the spreaders about one third in without it being a problem. I think it varies from boat to boat and would suggest that it may be worth speaking to a rigger if you fancy doing it.
 
Davits! Brilliant!
TMC marine heads now had the fling test!

Jabsco ordered from Auckland, should be here soon.

The seal between the two chambers on the pump is a sintered bronze - thus soft - bush with just an 'O' ring sealing on the bush. The 'O' ring goes flat, the bush gets a groove and the two chambers intermix.

Excuse the pun, its crap!

Fed up with fixing the same fault every year because of bad design.
 
What worked:
Atlantic wind vane steering - flawless
Watermaker - wouldn't be without it
New fridge compressor/cooling plate-worth every penny
These are new installs for this year. Most other stuff worked most of the time.
What didn't work:
Cheap tablet and quark AIS. Just couldn't get it to work so bought much more expensive tablet and had great results.
1800 NM cruised this year.
 
As we use the dinghy a LOT, adding davits a couple of years back was a huge benefit. This year adding Suprod HD200 folding wheels to the dinghy was the biggest improvement, saving my back when pulling up beaches when going for walks in remote islands. Even work on sand, unlike smaller wheels.

PS. the biggest labour saving device for us remains the stackpack sail cover - fitted as mandatory after just one sail without it.
Properly setup with a fully battened mainsail and rigid kicker it works brilliantly and never needs adjustment. Lazyjacks setup 1/4 of way out the spreaders, and tied off permanently there (to avoid the string tapping on the mast on the way down). Adjusted at boom at start of season and left thereafter. Definitely of the view that essential for short handed sailing with boats above 30 feet, and if not working then not setup properly. But each to own.
 
Pleased that things are turning round for you.

Was the boom tent a bespoke affair or a DIY job ? I don't think my funds will allow something expensive at the moment. Thought about buying a nice rectangle of Sumbrella fabric that would match the sail cover. Rigged below the boom to stop the weather and drips when banged up aboard due to the wonderful UK wind and rain.

£20 in Screwfix:

Tarp.jpg
 
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